Lawn-mower.



un. ss|,9|4. Patented Nov. n3, mooil e. P. KAHLER.

LAWN MWB.

(Application led July 15, .1899.1

(No Model.)

Lrmo., wAsnmoroN n c AAFries.

PATENT GOTTLIEB P. KAHLER, OF DOUGLAS, ILLlNOIS.

LAWN-NIOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,914` dated November13, 1900;

(No model.)

T0 all 1077/0771/ it muy concern.:

Be it knownthat l, GOTTLIEB P. KAHLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Douglas, in the county of Knox and Slate of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn-Mowers; and l dohereby declare that the followingis atull, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to lawn-mowers of that class which are driven byhand.

One object ot' my invention is to provide a lawn-mower of simpleconstruction, which will be cheap and require but little power tooperate it.

A further object is to furnish a mower of this character in which thecutting portion can be driven fast or slow, according to the kind ofmaterial to be cut.

A still further object is to provide a mower wherein the cuttingarrangement is entirely independent of the carrying-wheels, whereby themovement of the said mower over the ground does not affect the cutting.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the mower. Fig. lais a detail view of a connection for operating the cutter-bar. Fig. 2 isan edge or side view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail View of a modied formof drivingdevice. Fig. 3L is a detail view of the form of drivingarrangement shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective View ofmeans for adjusting a pitman-rod used as part of the operating portion.Fig. 5 is asectional View of a coned connection for the said pitman.Fig. 6 is a detail of a frame carrying the cutter.

A is a bar of Wood having a breastpiece B at the upper end and a handleat C. At the lower end of the bar is attached an arched frame D ofconsiderable height, having aftixed thereto a sickle E. At the rear ofsuch frame is a roller F, which in practice supports the machine Vin thesame manner as the usual carrying-wheels on the older form of this classot' devices. Asiclle-bar Gis mounted on the sickle E, being held inplace by screws H, entering the sickle E. Slots in the bar Gr, throughwhich the screws pass, guide the latter in its movements. Parallel withthe bar A is a shaft J, having bearings on the said bar A at a. and b.The upper end ofthe shaft carries a pinion K, driven by a wheel L,journaled on the bar A, as shown. Said wheel L is provided with a handleM, by which it is driven. The lower end of the shaft carries a wheel N,which is slotted at O, Fig. 3, and the end of a pitman P is held thereinand may be adjusted to or from the center to obtain more or less stroke,as is obvious. The method of adjusting the pitman Within the slot O isnot important and no particular means is illustrated; but a stud withinthe slot, locked by means of a suitable nut, may be employed, to whichthe pitman may be loosely attached iu suitable manner. The pitman isdivided into two sections, as shown in Fig. 4, and an adjustablethreaded sleeve connects the two and by which the pitmau may beshortened or lengthened or any looseness taken up. The opposite end ofthe pitman is pivotally attached to a lever R, and such lever is pivotedto an arm S, secured to the bar A. The lower end of the level' isslotted, as shown in Fig. la, and a projecting lug C carries a pin toengage the said slot. It will be see-n that by revolving the wheel Lmovement is transmitted through the pinion K and, shaft J to the wheel Nand pitman P to the lever R. Thelatter being held at its upper end willvibrate as the wheel N revolves, causing the sickle-bar to vibrate inthe direction of its length, as in the ordinary reaper. Since the end ofthe lever moves in the arc of a circle and the cutter-bar has a motionin a straight line at right angles to the said lever, it will be seenthat the slot in the end of the lever will permit free movement of theparts.

The advantage of my mower is that when driven by hand any speed of thesickle-bar is attainable to suit the work being done. When cutting linetough grass, the machine is moved slowly over the ground, but the sickleis driven rapidly. For ordinary work the machine may be moved faster andthe speed of the sickle reduced. It is seen that the speed of movementof the sickle-bar is not dependent on the speed the machine travels.

In operation the piece B is placed against the breast, the lett handgrasps the handle C, and the right the handle M on the wheel L. Themower is carried ou the roller F,

IOO

and the latterlisliised as a fulcrumonvwhich to swing thernowervertically in order` to obtain more or less height of the teeth, as isobvious. By this means the grass may be cut at any elevation desired.Fences, trees, and other obstacles can be worked upto without leavingany grass stand that wouldafter- Ward have to be out with a sickle, asis the case with the old forms of lawn-mowers. An advantage in thismower also lies in the fact that grass or Weeds can be readily cut, nomatter. how hishnhey4 mayY be..

In Fig. 5 I show the form of pivotal connection between the pitman P andlever R; The said lever is countersunk on both sides at the opening forthe said fpitman, and conesfand g' are screwedonto the threadedextremity of such pitman to snugly tin said conntersunk portions,asshown.. By this means all wearandfrattle may be easily taken up.

A furthery advantage in my form of mower is that the frame D forms ayoke of considerable height, through which the tallv grass and Weedsmaypass as they are cut without interruption. Iy am. aware.' that there isa mower constructed*somethingafter the same manner` as minein.y thisregard, but `its-carrying wheels ortrucks are immediatelyin the rear,and consequently stop the cut material as it-falls;. but since theroller F of i my device is located immediately under the cutter-barVfree passage of the-cut material must result,an advantage-that will beappreciated. Furthermore, I am not aware of'a mower which combineswithitfsome means i for changing the speed` of traveli ofthe.cutter-barv-by means ofvv an extensible pitman andplate, and I believethe same is new.

In Fig. Iishow.. a modified form of the adjustment for.. carryingthepitman-and-changt ing its stroke. The Wheel N is slotted at d d, and aplate U', carrying bolts c e, is clamped `clamped around it and formspart of the pitman. By loosening the bolts and slipping the plate as faras desired any stroke of the pitman `can be obtained.

Havingdesoribed my invention, I claim- In a lawn-mower for hand use, apush-bar .A, provided with a handle C and breast por- .tion B, a shaftJ, at the side of the said bar,

a pinion K on the upper end thereof, a wheel L for driving the same, andrevolving the shaft, a revolvingplateN on the forward end ofthe shaft, ayoke D on the-forward end of the push-bar, a roller F journaled at theunder side of said yoke, a 4sickle-bar G mounted on the sickle E andadapted to vibrate thereon,slots in said sickle-bar,screws H in thesickle and passing through said slots for retaining the sickle-bar in'place and guiding it in its reciprocating movements, an arm S secured topush-bar, a lever R pivoted to the outerend thereof, the saine beingloosely attached to the sickle-bar, a pitman pivoted to said leverVconsisting of the portions P and the sleeveQ for changing the length ofthe saidrpitman, the plate U secured to the said plate N', there beingslots d in said latter plate, bolts e in the plate U for holding thelatter and permitting adjustment thereof,and

a strapV surrounding the plate U and attached to the pitman all arrangedas set forth. In testimony whereof I'aftix my signature vin presence oftwo witnesses.

GOTTLIEB P. KAI-ILER.

Witnesses:

` C. JOHNSON,

A. KEITHLEY.

